Allison Kaplan Sommer is a journalist at Haaretz, host of Haaretz Weekend podcast and co-host of The Promised Podcast.
Allison Kaplan Sommer
By Allison Kaplan Sommer
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Life Israel’s ‘Rape by Deception’ Verdict Belies Racism
An Israeli judge this week convicted Sabbar Kashur, a 30-year-old Jerusalem man, of rape and sentenced him to 18 months in prison. But his real crime was lying. Kashur met a Jewish woman in September 2008 in downtown Jerusalem. He told her that he was single, Jewish and interested in a romantic relationship. The woman…
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Life Getting More Israeli Girls onto the Soccer Field
It is a waste of time to even try to avoid World Cup fever in Israel. It’ll get you wherever you are. One would have to be completely culturally oblivious to remain unaware that it will be Holland vs. Spain playing in the final game on Sunday. The hum of the South African [vuvuzelas][1] is…
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Life Who Says Elena Kagan Isn’t Kosher?
As the congressional confirmation hearings of Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan take center stage, one headline leapt out in its oddity: “Jewish Clergy Group: Elena Kagan Isn’t ‘Kosher’ to Serve on Supreme Court.” Indeed, a group called the Rabbinical Alliance of America is calling on the Senate Judiciary Committee not to confirm Kagan. Spokesman Rabbi…
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Life In Israel, Bat Mitzvahs Where Torah Is Read Remain Rare
“Where are you heading?” a friend asks. “I’m on my way to pick up Naomi from her bat mitzvah lesson.” I reply. The response is silence and a slightly confused look. “She’s going to read from the Torah at her bat mitzvah and she’s started studying for it. You know, I’m American and all, and…
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Life Knesset Bill Could Ban Too-Skinny Models
Israel can point to one indisputably successful international export, which so far, no one has shown any interest in boycotting: drop-dead gorgeous models. Sports Illustrated bikini-wearing, DiCaprio-dating Bar Rafaeli may be the current the leader of the pack, but she is part of a long and glorious tradition, following in the high-heeled footsteps of those…
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Life Tali Fahima’s Journey to Islam
It’s been a long, strange journey for Tali Fahima. From a Likud-voting legal secretary from the southern development town of Kiryat Gat to a Palestinian rights activist in the West Bank city of Jenin to an inmate in an Israeli prison. Now, the Jewish-born Israeli has converted to the religion of Islam. News of her…
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Life On Helen Thomas’ Hateful Remarks
Like any little girl growing up in the 1970s who dreamed of a career in journalism, I couldn’t but help but look up to Helen Thomas. There she was, front row to history, president after president, asking her questions and closing each press conference with her signature “Thank You, Mr. President” and earning the title…
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Life How Israel’s Mandatory IDF Service Affects How We Parent
I began my phone call to my friend Karen with the same question that has launched all of our recent conversations: “How’s Noah?” And so I get the latest report on her 18-year-old son who recently entered training for a combat unit in the Israel Defense Forces. Noah is the first child of a close…
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